CHAPTEE XXVIII. 



POWER OF CALCULATION. 



THAT many animals possess a wonderfully correct knowledge 

 of time and its flight, and that they act appropriately upon 

 that knowledge, cannot be doubted. What is the nature of 

 their knowledge, or how acquired, is not so apparent. Some 

 authors speak of their ability to count, reckon, measure, or 

 calculate time, or its intervals or lapse (Watson, Broderip, 

 Jesse, Low, Combe). Dr. Carpenter, for instance, speaks of 

 f that remarkable power of measuring time which many ani- 

 mals certainly possess ; ' but whether they really do so can- 

 not, perhaps, at present be determined. Many animals, 

 however, have 



1. Stated or fixed times for work, play, or meals (White). 



2. Our domestic animals have regular hours for going to 

 bed, getting up, or going for water (Houzeau) . 



3. Milch cows have their fixed hours for their midday 

 milking and their evening rest, and they know when they 

 may expect escape from their byres in the morning. 



4. Many birds, dogs, cats, and other animals know to a 

 minute almost man's meal hours. 



5. Many dogs distinguish Sunday from all other days in 

 the week, as well as holidays, market days, fair days, from 

 the other days of a month or season. 



The knowledge of time manifested in these different cases, 

 and by a great variety of animals, obviously differs much in 

 its character. Authors have variously and vaguely spoken, 

 for instance, of animals possessing 



1. A knowledge or recognition of the progress or passage 

 of time, a consciousness of its lapse. 



